Today in History: May Day
Today in History–May 1–the Library of Congress features May Day. Originally a celebration of spring, May Day later became a day to celebrate workers and is still celebrated as such in many countries around the world. It was first celebrated in the United States in 1887, a year after the conflict between labor protestors and members of the Chicago police force known as the Haymarket Affair. Learn more about other May Day celebrations by reading the Today in History section, then click the links below to access related primary sources.
May Day historical U.S. newspaper coverage
Bringing in the May streaming webcast discussing folk traditions in U.S. and Great Britain
Library blog posts
- From Cornwall to the Ozarks: More May Celebrations Folklife Today May 8, 2014
- The Darling Buds of May: Spring Blossoms and Workers’ Discontent Headlines & Heroes April 30, 2019
- A May Day Pageant Picture This May 1, 2012
- May Day: A Festival of Flowers Folklife Today April 30, 2014
- May Day…One Phrase with Many Different Meanings Teaching with the Library of Congress April 30, 2019
- May Day Scenes Picture This May 1, 2017
- A Spring Holiday for Workers In Custodia Legis April 29, 2016
- Workers of America Unite! Headlines & Heroes September 4, 2019
Related resources